Sportsbooks Make Boston Celtics Outright Favorites in NBA Title Odds Shakeup

The Celtics have quietly taken care of business and looked dominant in the process.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

While their perceived primary competition gets battered on the court, the Boston Celtics have quietly taken care of business and looked dominant in the process. 

One group taking notice are bookmakers. 

For the first time this season, the Celtics are now outright favorites to win the NBA championship at both FanDuel and DraftKings Sportsbooks, with -130 odds and -115 odds, respectively, to win the title. 

The Celtics have been the betting favorites for most of the season, but this is the first time this year their odds have moved into negative territory. Heading into the second round of the NBA playoffs, they were even money (+100 odds) at FanDuel. 

This odds movement means the people setting the odds now believe the Celtics have better than a 50% chance of winning the title. Implied odds of an outcome occurring at -130 odds is 56.5% and -115 is 53.5%. 

The Nuggets were second in the betting odds heading into their Western Conference semifinal matchup against the Timberwolves but have lost the first two games at home and have fallen to fifth in the odds at +1600 on FanDuel. The T-Wolves are now the second betting favorite +300 followed by the Thunder at +600. The Thunder are up 1-0 in their series against the Mavericks, who have +1800 odds. 

The Knicks have the second-best odds to win the title among Eastern Conference teams with +1200 odds at FanDuel. They are up 2-0 in their series against the Pacers, but have been decimated by injuries, including a likely hamstring injury to star forward OG Anunoby in Game 2. 

The Celtics are -390 at FanDuel to win the Eastern Conference Finals. They are up 1-0 in their semifinal series against the Cavs and are -8000 to win that series. That’s an implied probability of 98.8%. 

While the Celtics haven’t gotten as much national buzz as Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves, oddsmakers clearly have faith. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown remain dominant; Derrick White has emerged as a bonafide third scorer; and Jrue Holiday has the championship pedigree and dominant defensive ability critical to winning a title. Kristaps Porzingis is currently injured but is expected back this postseason. 

Add it all together and it’s no wonder they’re the outright favorites at this point, though things can change quickly in the playoffs. 

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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